phrasal verb / idiom · neutral
keep someone on their toes
UK/kiːp ˈsʌmwʌn ɒn ðeə(r) təʊz/US/kip ˈsʌmwʌn ɑn ðɛr toʊz/keep·some·one·on·their·TOES
to cause someone to be alert, prepared, and ready to deal with problems
Examples
“The coach uses surprise tests to keep the players on their toes.”
“Good competition can keep companies on their toes.”
“Rotating tasks every week helps keep staff on their toes and reduces boredom.”
Band 8 sentence
“Rotating tasks every week helps keep staff on their toes and reduces boredom.”
Collocations
- keep staff on their toes
- keep the team on their toes
Word family
Common mistakes
keep someone alert→keep someone on their toes
keep someone on his toes→keep someone on their toes
Say it for a higher band
5keep alert→6keep someone vigilant→7+keep someone on their toes
Synonyms
keep alert
keep someone vigilant
Easily confused
keep someone on edge
“The strange noises kept her on edge throughout the night.”
Related words
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